First, I baked all day Friday. Then I didn’t clean up the kitchen at all, until 9PM rolled around and I whined that if I didn’t clean up the kitchen, I’d hate myself in the morning. So I did what any normal person does… lay on the couch and watch Fashion Police.

Saturday morning I woke up, hated myself for not cleaning the kitchen, and then… sat down on the couch.

Then I worked out with my husband. Ummm… a huge first. Granted we met in a gym (oh hi, cliche) and have worked out in close proximity to each other for years, but I am the type of person who wants to speak to no one while exercising – the type who puts my headphones on full blast and purposely ignores people even as they are flailing their arms in front of me.

Um what? I can’t hear you.

So yeah. We did that.

Then we did something else totally crazy… that included making breakfast, together. Like… cooking in the kitchen. AT THE SAME TIME. And not threatening divorce. This was huge.

He made eggs (they were okay) and I made pancakes (ehh… still okay) and then we ate. And then we decided after three plus years of being married that hey… we sort of actually like each other.

True story.

Then we started to fiiiiinally take down the Christmas decorations. And I tortured him to death because let me tell you this: my husband has a wild and crazy phobia of styrofoam. Yes, STYROFOAM! It makes him cringe, like nails on a chalkboard. I find it hilarious and love to squish it together anytime I can get my hands on it. I’ve often thought of wrapping one of his birthday presents in like 42 styrofoam boxes that progressively get smaller, and smaller, and…

I think he retracted his precious post-breakfast feelings after that.

So I got sucked into Rob Lowe’s memoir and read the entire thing in less than 24 hours. Then I google-imaged pictures of Rob Lowe for three more hours.* Then I wondered when it became unacceptable to hang posters of Rob Lowe on your (marital) bedroom ceiling.

Then I wondered why I don’t have a life.

In between all that, I ate pizza. Pizza is a super Saturday-y thing to do.

I didn’t do any laundry. Oh! But he did. My husband… not Rob Lowe. Until the washing machine broke mid-load. That was fun!

Not.

And while that was happening I was watching the Golden Globe red carpet hoopla, figuring that since most of the people on TV hadn’t eaten a brownie in like four months, that I’d eat an extra one for them. So I did. And I’ll tell you about those later. I also took a good fifteen minutes contemplating my thoughts on Gerard Butler’s hair. Then before I knew it Scott Disick was on the screen wearing some sort of violet blazer-type suit thing, which made me reconsider my favorite color and start re-reading Rob Lowe’s memoir.

Then Mr. How Sweet came downstairs and realized I still had not started researching washing machines, and umm… didn’t I know he is sincerely Type A and has to do a load of laundry (which consists of every color, fabric and item mashed together, not separated) every single day? And why couldn’t I just start acting like a grown up?

Then I reminded him of these red velvet cookies I had baked on Friday… totally thought up by someone brilliant on the Facebook page. I mean, I really didn’t think I could bust out a cookie this early in the year, with all the flour and sugar and pounds of butter looming heavily on my memory. I haven’t even craved a cookie since like, December 19th. But these made it past my mixer and just in time for you for Valentine’s Day… or you know, Tuesday. So he was happy.

And just then Rob Lowe came out to present a Golden Globe and was out there for an extra long time and I almost died. It’s totally fate.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Sift flour, cocoa powder and salt into a bowl and set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars until fluffy (scraping the bowl when needed), for about 3-4 minutes. Add in egg yolk and vanilla, and beat for another 1-2 minutes until combined. Add in red food coloring (note: I used liquid coloring, if you use gel you may need more/less) and mix until color spreads. With the mixer on low speed, stir in the flour mixture and gradually increase the speed for the dough to come together, again scraping down the sides to combine. One batter has come together, fold in mini chocolate chips.

Roll into balls that are about 1 inch in diameter and set on a baking sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from oven and gently press your thumb into the center of each cookie, creating a dent. Place the cookies back in the oven and bake for 5-6 more minutes. Remove and let cool completely.

Cream Cheese Marshmallow Frosting

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3/4 cups marshmallow fluff

1 3/4 cups of powdered sugar

1-2 teaspoons milk, if needed

Beat cream cheese in the bowl of electric mixer until creamy. Add in fluff and beat for 2-3 minutes, then add in vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, add in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until fully incorporated. Once all the sugar has been added, beat on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes. If mixture if too runny, add a bit more sugar. If it’s too thick, add a bit of milk one teaspoon at a time. Frost cookies, then top with shaved chocolate if desired.

you are very welcome! I had never seen a recipe with beet juice before!!

sharon brown — January 19th, 2012 @ 6:12 pm

I’m an old hippie who has used unusual ingredients to make a lot of things. I love carrot pie, and have even tried my hand at making my own laundry soap, cottage cheese, and tofu. the tofu isn’t worth it. Buy it from the store.

I was just thinking a marshmallow cream cheese frosting would be a good one. I work at Sprinkles and we just started making a S’mores cupcakes but I don’t like the marshmallow topping at all. I think it could be more flavorful and then I find this. I’m making my own s’mores cupcakes and using this frosting!!

Jess – Ahh I finally found someone else that hates styrofoam as much as I do! I thought I was the only one in the world. When I worked at TJMaxx in high school and we had to unload the truck I would pass the boxes with styrofoam in them down for the next person and take the clothes instead! Haha

This has nothing to do with this recipe but.. I’m completely obsessed with the blood orange sugar and glaze from the scones, so I wanted to make a thumbprint cookie rolled in orange sugar and topped with some glaze in the middle, any ideas for a good ‘base’ cookie recipe to use?? I don’t want to risk the cookie being too sweet since it will be rolled in sugar. Thanks :)!

I laughed out loud at your “taking a brownie for the team” description of starved actresses at the Golden Globes. Aside from Sofia Vergara cracking me up, my favorite part was seeing a friend of mine decked out in the most beautiful yellow gown ever. (She recently wedded Seth Rogen, who presented.) I squealed when I saw her. :)

mine three! I ended up taking more fluff and mixing it with half of the cream cheese mixture. still not fluffy…but fluffier. any insight, Jessica? I thought maybe I hadn’t beaten the icing long enough because it was still creamy, but I kept beating it for more than 5 minutes, and nothing changed but my arm tingling from the vibrating mixer.
I will say, it didn’t seem to make a difference in regard to the delicious factor. yum.

I swear to gosh I love reading your posts. They crack me up and my husband just watches me with confusion and he just doesn’t get it. I try to reread these to him. Nope. Nothing.

I spent my weekend taking care of two children 8 months and almost 3year old. They had the flu… now they’re better and the husband has it. He’s about a million times worse in behavior and whiny-ness than they were… combined.

i don’t have a web site so i left my sisters… tonight was my first night reading your blog and I Am In Love!!! thank you for the laughs…. i totally saw Rob Lowe…..no wait….oh no shoot it was Robert Downey Jr in LA when i lived there… oh well

I made these last night for my Valentine’s party. They were yummy! It might be helpful for some readers if they know the batter will turn a deeper red after you add the cocoa. I added 2 additional tsp of red food coloring trying to get my batter darker than pink, but as soon as I added the cocoa: RED!

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About Jessica

I’m Jessica and this is where I share my stuff. You will find a balance of healthy recipes, comfort food and indulgent desserts.

I am madly, passionately, inexplicably in love with food. Bacon makes me beam. Chocolate makes me shout from the rooftops with joy. Vegetables and I are the best of frenemies. My perfect world would include none of them.
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